Clint Bowyer was lights out in Stage 1 of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway. The driver of the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang led all 40 laps of the Stage and easily cruised to the Playoff point.
This is Bowyer’s third Stage Win of 2020.
Rookie Christopher Bell, who drives for Leavine Family Racing, was second in Stage 1. LFR announced this week that they have sold their charter and assets for the 2021 season and will not return.
Kyle Busch finished Stage 1 in third, Matt DiBenedetto was fourth and Michigan-native Erik Jones ended the Stage in fifth.
Jones, of course, was also told by Joe Gibbs Racing this week, that he will not return to JGR for the 2021 season.
William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and Joey Logano rounded out the top-10 in Stage 1.
Austin Dillon, who started from the rear after going to a backup car after Saturday’s event, had to serve a pass-through penalty on the opening lap of the race for “unapproved adjustments” to his No. 3 machine. However, Dillon was able to stay on the lead lap in Stage 1 and was 29th.
Stage and Playoff Points Awarded in Stage 1:
| Finish | Driver | Stage Points | Playoff Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clint Bowyer | 10 | 1 |
| 2 | Christopher Bell | 9 | 0 |
| 3 | Kyle Busch | 8 | 0 |
| 4 | Matt DiBenedetto | 7 | 0 |
| 5 | Erik Jones | 6 | 0 |
| 6 | William Byron | 5 | 0 |
| 7 | Ryan Blaney | 4 | 0 |
| 8 | Kevin Harvick | 3 | 0 |
| 9 | Kurt Busch | 2 | 0 |
| 10 | Joey Logano | 1 | 0 |
